In a landmark decision on Thursday, the Supreme Court directed the initiation of a tree census across Delhi, emphasizing that no felling of 50 or more trees would occur without the approval of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC). This ruling was issued by a bench comprising Justices A S Oka and Augustine George Masih, reflecting growing judicial oversight on environmental matters.
The court’s instructions were clear: the Delhi Tree Authority is to collaborate with the Forest Research Institute (FRI) and other experts to accurately count and document the city’s tree population. The census team will include retired Indian Forest Service officers Ishwar Singh and Sunil Limaye, as well as tree expert Pradeep Singh.
Highlighting the vital role trees play in environmental protection, the bench stated, “Trees are a very important part of our environment. The precautionary principle requires the government to anticipate, prevent, and eradicate causes of environmental degradation, including acting sternly against violators.”
Further elaborating on the process, the Supreme Court noted that any permission granted by the tree officer for the felling of 50 or more trees would not be executed unless it receives subsequent approval from the CEC. This committee is tasked with reviewing the tree felling documents meticulously and may request additional documents or impose specific conditions such as mandatory replanting.
This decision aligns with the court’s observation made on December 18, which underscored that tree protection laws are meant to save trees, not facilitate their removal. The issue traces back to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by environmentalist M.C. Mehta in 1985, focusing on the need to enhance green cover in the capital.
